The impact of windthrow and forest fire on Neuropterida and Mecoptera

The impact of forest fires and windthrow on species compositions in the Neuroptera, Raphidioptera, and Mecoptera was assessed in Swiss forests using standardized flight interception traps. As a result, 82 % of the 50 species benefited from the disturbance and became more abundant in the years after the fire or windthrow. Only 11 species, mainly Hemerobiidae and Coniopterygidae, peaked in the undisturbed forest stands. We conclude that for Neuropterida and Mecoptera catastrophic incidences are natural ecological events which create new habitats and by this foster their occurrence and abundance.